 Beautiful Brugge is the capital city of West Flanders and one of Belgium's best-loved tourist towns, boasting a magnificent array of historical architecture, along with abundant cultural and historical sites. Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its magnificently preserved buildings, Brugge is home to over 100,000 residents and draws millions of tourist each year.
 A visit to the city will immediately transport you back in time - winding cobbled streets, antiquated stone houses and a wealth of ornate Gothic architecture belie the town's status as a modern urban centre. Most of Brugge' historical and cultural attractions are concentrated in the 'golden triangle' inner city area, making it easy to explore the sights on foot. Those who tire of perusing the profusion of ancient buildings can take advantage of the many cafés, pastry shops and restaurants on the city's squares, take a boat cruise down the canals or pop into a pub to sample a selection of fabulous Belgian beer.
Brugge offers a wide selection of accommodation to choose from, with a number of excellent hotels situated in the central area around the Markt and several more on the north-eastern edge of the inner city. Should you be looking for intimate, upscale lodgings, the four-star De Orangerie Hotel is in a fantastic central location overlooking one of Brugge' many canals in the heart of the town.
 Brugge is served by a comprehensive network of city buses, which provide transport around the historical inner city as well as to the outlying suburbs. Belgian Railway trains travel to all parts of the country from the main train station, located about two kilometres from the city centre and easily accessible on foot or by bus. International passengers flying into the city are most likely to land at Brussels International Airport, also known as Zaventem Airport, which is situated roughly an hour from Brugge by car, with only limited carriers arriving at Ostend-Brugge Airport, some 26kms from the city centre.
History
 Brugge began its history as a modest medieval cloth-making town, evolving into a major textile centre by the late 13th century. Its growth and prosperity continued into the 14th century, when it became a significant member of the Hanseatic League of Seventeen Cities, an influential northern European trade association, while the stable rule of the Dukes of Burgundy served to increase the town's wealth and status. However, the tide turned in the 15th century, when the Zwin waterway – Brugge' vital channel to the open ocean – filled with silt and the city's prosperous trade link was abruptly terminated. This development threw the city into a severe decline, which lasted around 400 years.
 A revival was seen in the early 19th century, when Brugge began to attract attention as a tourist destination. It's beautiful architecture and abundant historical sites became a major tourist draw card; even more so after the city escaped the bomb sieges that desecrated so many other European centres during the World Wars. Brugge became known as one of the best preserved ancient cities on the continent. The centre continued to thrive after it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and appointed as the capital city of West Flanders. Today, it is a key manufacturing area and one of Belgium's most popular tourist destinations, drawing around four million tourists each year.
Weather
 In comparison to other parts of Europe, Belgium has a fairly mild climate, though winters can get painfully chilly, with temperatures nearing the 0°C mark at night. Though many locals boast that Brugge has predominantly good weather, it's essential to pack some warm weather gear to combat the cold, even in the spring and summer months, as nippy winds and cool nights are still frequent features during these periods. Summer days are generally clear and fair, with highs of around 23°C. The most popular months to visit Belgium are between May and September, when the weather is at its finest, but this period is also the peak tourist season, so those with an aversion to crowds might prefer to brave the cooler weather and visit in the spring or autumn months.
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